“I never thought I’d see this in my lifetime…If I had tried to get such a gathering together back then, they would have shut it down. But now this is a forum for everyone. And I couldn’t be happier. Sometimes I get a customer who complains about the music, or mixing, but I just tell them things have changed.”
-Saudi coffee shop owner Monira Salman Quaratah, who hosted on Thursday a women’s empowerment forum that drew more than 15 local and foreign women to speak to a new foundation, Saudi Women Stories. [The Guardian]
“One of Saudi Arabia’s leading goals is attracting a new type of tourist. Ruiz is a dual national, with a large fan base in both the US and Mexico; together with Anthony Joshua’s home the UK, tourists from these three countries accounted for 4.4 percent of the total number of incoming tourists in Saudi Arabia in 2017. A world championship fight could help boost this number and attract affluent visitors who can market the country to their affluent friends on social media and when they get back home.”
–Al Arabiya’s Omar Al-Ubaydli on this weekend’s ‘Clash on the Dunes’ world heavyweight boxing title rematch in Riyadh between Britain’s Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr of the United States. [Al Arabiya]
“My father allowed me to study art because he was a big feminist…[he] wanted his daughters to be financially independent. But he wanted me to study computer science….I financed my own education, my own studio — and this is very rare, even in the Western world. The whole time I was studying art privately. I would go and take weekend or evening courses. It was my passion; it was meant to happen. It was just a matter of time.”
-Saudi Artist Manal AlDowayan, in an interview with the New York Times about her life and work that explores the changes in the Kingdom.
“After turning down opportunities to go to the Middle East for many years, I’m excited to go play and see a place in the world I’ve never been…I understand those who are upset or disappointed. You’ll be OK. I’m excited to experience this for the first time.”
–Phil Mickelson, professional golfer, on his decision to play in the upcoming Saudi International golf tournament. The tournament will run from 30th January – 2nd February at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City. [GolfDigest.com]
“After turning down opportunities to go to the Middle East for many years, I’m excited to go play and see a place in the world I’ve never been…I understand those who are upset or disappointed. You’ll be OK. I’m excited to experience this for the first time.”
-Phil Mickleson, professional golfer, on his decision to play in the upcoming Saudi International golf tournament. The tournament will run from 30th January – 2nd February at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City. [GolfDigest.com]
“The Saudi G20 Presidency is committed to continuing the work from Osaka and promoting multilateral consensus. Working with our G20 partners, we will strive to deliver concrete actions and realize opportunities to enable us to face the challenges of the future.”
–Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in a press release announcing that Saudi Arabia had officially assumed the G20 presidency. [Press Release]
“I congratulate my brother His Excellency Mr. Yasser Othman Al-Rumayyan… It’s an important step to prepare the company for the public offering, wishing him every success.”
–Khalid Al-Falih, on stepping aside as Saudi Aramco chairman to be replaced by Yasser Al-Rumayyan.
“Last week marked another historic day for Saudi women, giving them hope for a brighter future for them and their daughters…Next time I travel abroad, I will not have to worry about the travel permission being updated in the Saudi Passport Directorate’s records or at the Saudi borders. I will pack my suitcase knowing that presenting my green passport, as an adult with full Saudi citizenship, will be sufficient…As a Saudi woman, it is exciting to witness a new era of rapid changes that will be referred to in the future as the time when Saudi Arabia started to open up to accepting women as equal partners to men.”
Lulwa Shalhoub, a resident of Jeddah, writes how the change in guardianship laws in Saudi Arabia will affect her life and in an op-ed. [BBC]
“We confirm that we will continue to hold such meetings and talks between our two countries to ensure further progress, partnership, investment development and mutual trade.”
-Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry, and Natural Resources, on talks with Russia during a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Alexander Novak. [Reuters]
